The UK's largest insurer, Norwich Union, has launched an extension to its motor policy designed to help individuals injured in car accidents to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.
The UK's largest insurer, Norwich Union, has launched an extension to its motor policy designed to help individuals injured in car accidents to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.
Physiofast provides drivers or passengers injured as a result of a car accident, regardless of fault, with access to professional physiotherapy.
Norwich Union Direct's product development manager, Richard Alger, said: "Our research highlighted the difficulties faced by many injured parties when trying to seek physiotherapy following an accident. In many parts of the country individuals may wait up to three months before being able to get an appointment with an NHS physiotherapist - in some areas it can be as much as 40 weeks. With an annual premium of Ł12 the policy represents a cost- effective way of getting medical care within days rather than weeks. Importantly, the sooner an injured party receives physiotherapy the more likely they are to make a full recovery."
Anyone injured - even if they just feel 'shaken up' - can talk to a Norwich Union incident manager. This will lead to:
- Immediate contact with a nurse to discuss the extent of the injuries (either at hospital or at home)
- Referral to a chartered physiotherapist
- An initial consultation to assess the level of treatment required
- Up to 8 treatment sessions
- Dedicated helpline available 24 hours a day
Using qualified instructors to provide 'driving support', the new policy also offers customers, who have been involved in an accident, the opportunity to regain their confidence before getting back on the road. This may include taking them back to the scene of the accident.
Richard Alger continued: "We believe that rehabilitation can be used successfully to limit the pain and suffering of those hurt in car accidents where whiplash remains the most common injury. Physiofast aims to get people back on their feet and behind the wheel as soon as possible."
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For further information, please contact David Ross at Norwich Union on 08703 66 68 65/07786 526350.
Notes to editors:
- Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer with a market share of around 16 per cent and is more than 1.5 times the size of its nearest rival. It is also the largest personal lines insurer.
- It has a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses. It insures:
- one in five households
- one in five motor vehicles
- more than 700,000 businesses
- Norwich Union products are available through a variety of distribution channels including brokers, corporate partners such as banks and building societies and Norwich Union Direct.
- Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available on the Aviva internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.
- An ISDN facility is available for studio quality interviews. Call the press office on 08703 66 68 68
For all life & pensions media enquiries 08703 66 68 73
For all other media enquiries 08703 66 68 68